Sport sock



Sept. 22, I959 2,904,980

S. G. STINSON SPORT SOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 INVENTORSfe/I/fa 6. Sf/nson A T'TORNEY Sep 22, 1959 s. G. STINSON 2,904,990

SPORT SOCK Filed May 5, 19 58 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR S/el/fia 6.59/0900 ATTORNEYS United ttes atent SPORT SOCK Stellita G. Stinson,Santa Ana, Calif.

Application May 5, 1958, Serial No. 732,983

4 Claims. (Cl. 66-171) This invention relates to knitted articles offootwear and particularly to socks which are intended for sport,informal and house wear.

Women who play golf and tennis, or who are active in other sports, havefound that wearing of the usual short socks or anklets allow their legsto become tan while their ankles remain untan, especially because theyare covered by the socks which they wear. The contrast between the tanand untan portions of womens legs presents an unattractive appearancewhen the legs are bare or when sheer stockings are worn. Stocking feetare available but are intended to be worn inside the shoes and have noleg or ankle portion whatsoever, and have been found to beunsatisfactory for active sport wear because the heel portions ofstocking feet tend to work down into the shoe and thus becomeuncomfortable. Efforts have been made to overcome this slipping down ofthe stocking feet by stiffening the heel portion of the stocking feet,but stiffening material makes the stocking uncomfortable and also hardto launder. ttempts have also been made to provide a sock with a footportion with a tab that envelopes the rear portion of a shoe whichexposes the wearers ankle portion, and at the same time, resists thetendency of the heel portions to slip down in the shoe. However, socksof this description or type, for the most part, can only be worn in ashoe and consequently are not desirable for casual use around the house,or if the wearer is not interested in using the sock solely for thepurpose of obtaining an evenly tanned leg, the sock is impracticablebecause of its unattractive appearance.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome the objectionsand disadvantages provided by conven tional socks heretofore, andprovide an article. of footwear which at the wearers election may coveronly the portions of the feet that are inside the shoes, leaving thewearers ankles as well as the rest of the legs bare, and

at the same time, resists the tendency of the heel portions to slip downdespite the activity incidental to sports wear.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sock which has acuff that may be turned up around the ankle or down around the top of ashoe in which it may be sock whichdoes not go down into the shoe whetherthe cuff of the sock is worn turned up or in the shoe overlappingposition.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sock which mayhave a double thickness, looped cuff which may be used with an instep ofvarious lengths so that the sock will not slip down in the wearers shoe.

, knit fabric.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sock which may beknit in two separate sections by two different knitting machines, andthen combined by use of a third knitting machine.

Other objects and features of this invention will become readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanied sheet ofillustrated drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sport sock constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention and showing themanner in which the cuff of the sock may be worn in a turned-upposition.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sport sock as it would appear in ashoe when the cuff is worn in an overlapping position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the sock of the present inventionshowing the construction thereof with the cuff in its turned-upposition.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the sock of thisinvention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the sockshowing its relationship to the shoe.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sock on a part showing variouspossible lengths of the instep, any of which may be used with a doublethickness, looped cuff.

The sock shown in Figures 1 and 3, comprises a foot portion 11, having atoe portion 1, a sole portion 2, a side portion 3, an instep portion 4,and a heel portion 5. The side portion 3 extends from the toe portion 1to the heel portion 5. The instep portion 4 extends from the footportion 11 to a higher than normal position on the wearers ankles to thefront of fold line 6 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The remainderof the sock which is not covered by the instep portion is open at thetop. The height of the heel portion 5 is substantially equal to the heelportion of a shoe with which the sock is to be worn such as shoe If) asshown in Figure 2. The height of the side portions 3 and the length ofinstep portion 4 are such that the portions of the foot covered by thesock are substantially more extensive than the por tion of the footwhich would be covered by prior-art ankle socks designed for the samepurpose.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention the sockis provided with a cuff '7 which extends upwardly from the heel portion5, circumferential with the side portion 3, to the instep portion 4. Asis illustrated in the drawing, the cuff 7 is formed of rib knit fabric,but need not be the same knit as the foot portion, while the otherportions of the sock are formed of plain This difference in fabric givesthe cuff 7 greater weight or body so that when it is turned down outsidethe heel portion of the shoe 10, as illustrated in Figure 2, it will lieneatly in place to present an attractive appearance and at the same timeaid the heel portion 5 in keeping its snug upright position in the shoe.The line of transition from the plain knit heel portion of the footportion 11 and the cuff 7 provides a natural fold line 6 and cooperateswith the cuff 7 in keeping the heel portion 5 smooth and in place.However, it must be kept in mind that the main factor in this preferredembodiment, in keeping the sock from slipping down in the shoe is thefact that the instep 4 extends up the ankle of the wearer to a higherdegree than previously designed ankle socks. It should also be notedthat the sock of the invention does not require any elastic or bindingmaterial around the fold line 6 to resist. the tendency of the sock ofslipping down in the shoe or to assist in holding it in position.

The knitted ribs 9 provide stiffness in the longitudinal direction ofthe sock which when worn in an upright position as shown in Figure 1will tend to stay snug to the ankle without exhibiting any uncomfortableor unattractive wrinkles in the sock. .Also, the stiffness and rigidityof ribs 9 in cooperation with fold line 6 holds the cuff against beingdrawn up over the edge of the shoe and down in the inside of the heelwhich is the tendency of conventional sport socks.

The height of the heel portion 5 is just above that .of the heel portionof the shoe so that the cuff may be folded over the top edge of the shoel0 and display an attractive appearance. It should also be noted thatthe instep portion 4 which opens into the V-neck openingfi will extendfarther up the front of the ankle at fold line 6 than it will at therear of the ankle at fold line 6.

The sock of this invention may be produced on a full fashioned knittingmachine with too structures and .a heel structure characteristic offull-fashioned hosiery, but it has been found easier to knit the footportion 11 and cuff portions '7 on separate full-fashioned knittingmachines, and then combine the cuff portion 7 of foot portion I1 alongthe fold line 6 by a separate knitting looping machine, which speeds upcompletion of the article of manufacture.

It must also be noted that the cuff of the sock of this invention may bedecorated, ornamented, and dressed up with differentcolored threads ordesigns for a desirable costume effect, whether the cuff is worn overthe top of the shoe or turned up around the leg as shown in Figure 1.This sock has a finished look regardless of whether it is Worn without ashoe or not. It is obvious that its purposes are two-fold, mainly thatwhen worn as a sport sock or for casual house wear the cuff would beturned up around the ankle where as when it is used with golf shoes orother sport shoes it will be turned down, as it will dress up the shoebecause of its overlapping decorative effect. The cuff 6 is alsoprovided with a V- neck opening 8 so that when cuff '7 is turned down,the cuff will not be in the way of the tongue of the shoe or laces.

The alternative embodiment of this invention is shown in Figure 4. Thisembodiment is made in much the same way as the preferred embodiment butdiffers from the preferred embodiment in that it has a double thickness,looped cuff, both ends of which are attached at the fold line 17, makinga continuous cuff around the entire ankle of the wearer.

The fact that the cuff 16 is looped to the foot portion at 18 gives areinforced thread seam extending around the wearers instep as shown inFigure 4 by points 13, 14, and 15. Thus, it can be seen that when thedouble thickness, looped cuff 16 is turned down over the top of shoe 10,the portion of the sock between numerals 13 and 14 has little or notendency to work down in shoe ft-fl because of the absence of relativemotion ofthe shoe l0 and the foot in this portion. The portion of thesock at the rearmost portion near point '15 would have a tendency toslip down in shoe 10 if it-were'not connected with the portions of thesock between points '13 and 14 by continuous cuff 16. The portion of thecuff between points '13 and 14 lend stability to the portion of the sockbetween points 114 and 15, thus holding the sock in a firm position.'The wearer of the sock will feel ,a snug fit at the heel ora lightpressure because of the reinforced seam 18. Thus, when the cuff 16 isturned down over the shoe 10, there is an additional snugness caused bythe portion of the sock at point resulting from its being attached tothe portion of the sock between points 13 and 14. It is then easy to seethat the points near 15 which are most likely to work down into shoe .10could do so only if the portion of the sock near point '13 .would workdown, .and this action is practically impossible because the portion'be- 4 tween points 13 and 14 is held by shoe 10 where there is littleor no relative motion between the shoe 10 and the foot.

From the foregoing, the construction and advantages of the inventionwill readily be understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitablemodifications equivalent may be resorted to,falling within the scope of the appended in vention.

What is claimed is:

1. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn inside a shoe on thefoot, having a foot portion, including a heel portion, side portions andan instep portion, a looped double thickness cuff attached to the topsof said side portions including said heel portion, :ex tending from saidinstep portion around said heel portion and back to said instep portion,a reinforcedseam line, extending around the ankle between said cuff andsaid side portions, whereby said portion adjacent-said in.- step portionstabilizes said heel portion.

2. A knitted article of footwear having a foot'portion including a heelportion, side portions, and an instep portion, said instep portioncovering the entire instep of the foot, the top of said foot portionbeing open, and a cuff extending along the top edge of said foot portionfrom a point on one side portion adjacent said instep portioncontinuously around said heel portion to a point on the opposite sideportion adjacent said instep portion, said cuff being capable of beingworn up around the ankle or turned down over the edge of a shoe.

3. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn on the foot inside ashoe, said article having a foot portion, including a heel portion, sideportions, and an instep portion, said instep portion covering the entireinstep of said foot, the top of said foot portion being open, and a cuffextending around the top edge of said foot portion from a first forwardlocation on one side portion adjacent said instep portion continuouslyaround said heel portion to a second forward location on the oppositeside portion adjacent said instep portion, said cuff being capable ofbeing worn up around the ankle or folded down over the shoe.

4. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn on the foot inside ashoe, said article having a foot portion, including a heel portion, sideportions, and an instep portion, said instep portion covering the entireinstep of said foot, the top of said foot portion being open, and a cuffextending around the top edge of said foot portion from a first forwardlocation on one side portion adjacent said instep portion continuouslyaround said heel portion to a second forward location on the oppositeside portion adjacent said instep portion, said cuif capable of beingworn up around the ankle or folded down over the shoe, the forward partof said cuff forming a V-neck opening when said cufi is worn up aroundthe ankle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,193,056 Burn Mar. 12, 194.0 2,526,663 Holland Oct. 24, 1950 2,623,374Hinchman Dec. 30, 1952. 2,642,678 Fula June 23, 1953 2,691,779 Bell Oct.19, 1954 2,721,463 Tuberty Oct. 25,, 1955

